Amalgamator.



No. 641.808. 7 Patented .Ian. 23, I900. H. M. THOMPSON.

AMALGAMATOB.

(Application filed Jan, 10, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE@ HUGH M. THOMPSON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AMALGAMATO'R.

SPECIFIGATION.forming part of Letters latent No. 641,808, dated January 23, 1900.

' Application filed January 10, 1898- Serial No. 666,242 No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUGH M. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amalgamators, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in amalgamators; and the main objects thereof are to produce a cheaply constructed and operated amalgamator, the same being adapted by its peculiar and novel construction to carry on the operations of thorough amalga mation and separation at one operation and in the same chamber, one wherein its capacity is large and itsoperation rapid as compared With the power required to operate the same, one wherein all parts are readily accessible and may be removed for cleansing and repairs, and one wherein every particle of the precious metal passed therethrough is caught and taken up by the mercury,the whole being accomplished through amalgamation of the metals and a most complete separation of the tailings therefrom without flouring or sickening and with but a minimum loss of mercury.

Other objects of more or less importance will hereinafter appear, and the novel-features of my invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view of an amalgamator constructed in accordance with my invention, certain portions being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is adetail View in perspective if the revolving, discharging, and agitating ead.

Similar nu merals of reference indicate si milar parts in both figures of the drawings.

The framework for supporting the amalgamator may be of any desired material or shape, but in the present instance is illustrated as of wood and of a general rectangular shape, such being commonlyin use and therefore requiring no further description.

Suitably supported in the framework at a suitableheight in the present instance by a horizontal frame 1is an annular amalgamating-pan 2, which may besurrounded by a depending or depressed gutter 4, having a discharge;spout 5, that may be provided with a valved outlet 5. From the inner edge of the gutter 4 the bottom of the pan gradually declines to a point about midway the same and the center, at which point the said bottom is more abruptly depressed, thus forming a central depressed amalgamating-chamber 7, which may be provided at its center with a draw-off cock 6. The amalgamating'pan is preferably made of iron, and when so made I prefer to line the same with removable copper plates 26, that may be readily removed from the pan when occasion requires and which may be temporarily attached to the bottom of the pan by screws or otherwise, though the pan may be electroplated with copper. This also enables me, if desired, to form, by casting or otherwise, the plates 26 with the annular series of fingers 8 integral therewith. In suitable vertically-alining and centrallylocated bearings 27 and 28, with which the framework is provided, may be journaled a hollow agitating shaft 14, which extends above and below said bearings, the upper end of said shaft being connected to an ore receptacle or hopper 19 and the lower end of said shaft'occurring immediately above and near the center of the amalgamating-chamber 3.

Near its lower end the shaft 14 supports in a suspended manner an annular agitatinghead 11, the same being preferably convexed on its under side to agree with the concavity of the amalgam-chamber and having a centrally-located and flanged opening 11 which receives the hollow shaft 14 and which may be secured adjustably thereon through the medium of a binding bolt or screw passed through said flange and impinging at its inner end against the shaft. The head 11 may also be provided with a surrounding vertical flange 11", which at intervals may have suitable sockets or holes 11 formed therein for the reception of the inner ends of a series of horizontally-disposed agitating-arms 12, that radiate at intervals therefrom and which terminate' at points vertically above the outer edge of the amalgamating-pan 2 and which are provided with a series of depending and preferably inwardly inclined or disposed stir- IOO ring-fingers 13, which terminate adjacent to the bottom of said pan and gutter.

The agitating-head 11 has secured to its under or convexed side in any suitable manner a series of concentrically -arranged depending agitating rings or flanges 10, the same preferably being of corresponding width, and therefore as a whole conforming to the convexed contour of the head. These flanges are preferably formed of copper and each is provided with a series of perforations, which in practice are about a quarter of an inch in diameter. The flanges 10 are spaced a slight distance apart and alternate with the annular series of upwardly-disposed fingers 8 heretofore referred to. Similar holes 14 or other forms of exit are also formed in the side wall of the hollow shaft 14, immediately above its lower end, which occurs a slight distance below the head 11, and within the innermost annular flange 10.

A suitably-valved water-pipe 21 may lead to a point above the ore-receptacle 19, the said pipe being designed to conduct water from any suitable source of supply, and a steam-conducting pipe 20, properly valved, may lead from any suitable source of steamsupply, extend down through the receptacle or hopper 19 into the hollow shaft 14, and ter minate in a discharge just above the lower end thereof. If employed, this steam-pipe may within the hollow shaft 14 and near its lower or discharge end be provided with a spirally-disposed external fin 31, and it being stationary and the hollow shaft revolving said fin will serve to agitate and break up the ore mass.

Any means may be employed for rotating the hollow shaft 14, and in the present instance I illustrate a beveled gear 15 as mounted on the shaft 14 between its bearings, the same meshing with and being driven by a smaller beveled gear or pinion 16, located on a driving shaft 16, journaled in suitable horizontal bearings 18 in the general framework and being provided at its outer end with suitable pulleys 17, by means of which it may be operated by suitable belts running from any source of power. (Not shown.)

The finely-ground ore is fed continuously into the ore receptacle or hopper 19 and mixed with water, bringing it to a semifluid state, and flows from the hopper 19 into and down through the hollow shaft 14 until it comes in contact with the body of mercury, which, it will be understood, is contained in a sufficient quantity in the amalgamating-pan to be on about a level with a point about an inch and a half above the lower part of the bottom or under side of the head 11. The resistance of this body of mercury to the exit of the ground ore forces the small particles of the latter, by the weight of its column within the hollow shaft, to make their exit through the small holes 14 laterally into the body of mercury. By this means and the rotating of the head 11, submerged in the body of mercury, the passing material and every particle of ore and precious metals in it are compelled to come in contact with the mercury and become intimately mixed or amalgamated with it. This minute division or separation of the particles and coaction contact with the mercury occurs as many times as there are perforated flanges 10 on the head 11, as through each of these flanges the combined mercuryand ore mixture is compelled to pass, the same being intermittingly agitated or broken up by the fingers 8.

After the ore refuse has passed through and risen to the level of the mercury in the amalgamating-chamber the mixture may be subjected to jets of water directed thereon by suitable hose and is agitated by the fingers 13 of the arms 12, so that a complete separation between the mercury and tailings is obtained in this pan, the mercury falling back or returning down the inclined bottom of the pan 2 to the amalgamating-chamber and the water carrying the tailings oif into the gutter 4, from which they are discharged by the spout 5.

The current of steam running down through the hollow shaft into the mercury at its bottom heats the ore column and mercury and completely prevents all sickening of the mercury from any cause whatever. Of course the steam may be omitted from the operation, if desired. Likewise I may also employ electricity to excite the mercury, and, as shown in Fig. 1, I may for this purpose employ an electrical brush 22, connecting it electrically with the hollow shaft 14 above the agitatinghead and to an electrical conductor 23, the remaining conductor 24 being connected to the discharge 6 or any other convenient point below the body of mercury, so as to cause the current of electricity to pass through the hod y of mercury.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an amalgamator,the combination with a framework, provided with bearings; an amalgamating-pan, having an inclined bottom provided with a central depressed portion forming an amalgamating-chamber; and annular series of upwardly-projecting agitators located in said chamber; of a hollow shaft journaled in the bearings of the framework and having its lower discharge end extended into the said chamber; an agitating-head carried by the shaft and adapted to revolve therewith in said chamber; a series of perforated flanges located on the under side of the said head and alternating with those of the chamber; and agitating-arms radiating at intervals from the said head and extending over the bottom of the amalgam-pan and having depending agitators.

2. In an amalgam ator,the combination with a framework, provided with bearings; an amalgamating-pan having an inclined bottom provided with a central depressed portion forming an amalgamating-chamber; and annular series of upwardly-disposed agitatingfingers located in said chamber; of a hollow shaft journaled in the bearings of the framework and provided with a lower discharge end projecting into the said chamber; an agirating-head carried suspended by the shaft and adapted to revolve therewith, said head having its under side convexed to conform to the shape of said chamber; a series of annu' lar concentric flanges perforated and depending from the said head and corresponding to the convexity thereof; and agitating-arms extending radially from the said head at.intervals over the said pan and providedwith depending agitating-fingers.

3. In an am algamator,the combination with a framework; an amalgam-pan located therein, provided with a surrounding overflow-gutter having a draw-oif, an inclined bottom, provided with a centrally-located depressed portion forming an amalgamating-chamber, having a central outlet; and an annular series of agitating-fingers extending upwardly from said amalgamating-chamber; of a hollow shaft journaled in hearings in the framework and terminating at its lower end in a discharge; a convexed agitating-head suspended and revolved by the said hollow shaft within the said amalgamating-chamber; a series of perforated annular concentric flanges depending from the under side of the head and conforming to the convexity thereof; and radiating agitating-arms radiating from the said head and provided with depending fingers.

4. In an amalgam ator,the combination with a framework; and an amalgamating-pan located therein; of a hollow shaft journaled in hearings in the framework, said shaft having a lower closed end provided with lateral perforations or discharges; a head carried by the shaft immediately above its discharges; and a series of perforated rings depending from the said head.

5. In an amalgamator, the combination with a framework; and an amalgamating-chamher; of a hollowshaft journaled in bearings in the framework and provided near its bottom with lateral discharges; a head carried by said shaft and provided with a surrounding vertical flange; a series of perforated rings or flanges depending from the under side of the head; and agitating-arms provided with agitators extending radially from the vertical flange of said head over that portion of the pan not under said head.

6. In an amalgamator, the combination with a frame; and an amalgamating pan or chamber; of a hollow shaft having lateral discharges near its lower end; a head carried by the shaft; perforated flanges depending from said head; and a steam-pipe extending in said shaft and terminating near its bottom or lower end, said pipe being provided with an external fin spirally disposed thereon; and means for rotating the shaft.

7. In an amalgamator, the combination with a framework; an amalgamating-pan provided with a central depression forming an amalgamating-chamber; and a lining seated in the said pan and chamber and within the latter having upwardly-disposed agitating-fingers arranged in annular series; of a hollow 'shaftjournaledin bearings in the framework,

and provided with a lower discharge end a head carried by the shaft; radiating agitating-arms carrying agitators extending from the side of the head; and perforated annular flanges, also of copper, depending from the under side of the said head and alternating with the said fingers.

8. In an amalgamator, the combination with a frame; the amalgamating-pan having the surrounding overflow, inclined bottom, and central depression, forming an amalgamatingchamber; of the vertical shaft; the agitatinghead 11, having the central flanged opening adjustably mounted on said shaft, said head having an outer vertical surrounding flange provided with sockets; agitating-arms located in and radiating from the sockets and provided with agitating-fingers; perforated annular rings or flanges 10 depending from the under side of the head and arranged in convexed form to correspond with the concavity of the amalgam-chamber; means for rotating the shaft; means for introducing ore between said head and the bottom of the chamber; and agitators extending upwardly from the bottom of the amalgamatingchamber between the said rings or flanges.

HUGH M. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH W. KERR, J. M. PERRY. 

